A post-tropical cyclone is a former tropical cyclone. Two classes of post-tropical cyclones are:
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Not all systems fall into the above two classes. According to the guideline, a system without frontal characteristics but with maximum winds above 34 knots may not be designated as a remnant low. It should be merely described as post-tropical. A few examples falling into this gray area are listed below.
However, there has been an occasion that the United States National Hurricane Center violated the definition and designated Calvin (2011) as a 35-knot remnant low.
Also, if a tropical cyclone degenerates into a tropical wave or trough, then it does not qualify as a post-tropical cyclone. It would be referred as the "remnants of (tropical cyclone name)".
In the South-West Indian Ocean, Météo-France classifies a tropical system as a “post-tropical depression” when it has begun an extratropical transition. Once it finishes the process, it will be classified as an extratropical depression.
Formation
A post-tropical cyclone is formed when the typical characteristics of a tropical cyclone are replaced with those of extratropical cyclones, otherwise known as extratropical transition. After the initial formation, a post-tropical cyclone has the potential to gain strength and intensity by forming an extratropical storm. If a post-tropical cyclone does become an extratropical storm, it will eventually decay through the process of occlusion.
Impacts
The re-intensification of a post-tropical cyclone can cause dangerous conditions in North Atlantic shipping routes with high seas and winds comparable to those of hurricanes.
Origin
The terminology was initiated by Canadian Hurricane Centre in 1998 during Tropical Storm Bonnie. In 2008, the National Hurricane Center used this term for Tropical Storm Laura to address the limitation of the two classes (extratropical/remnant low) mentioned above. The term was later adopted by the National Weather Service on May 15, 2010.
Synonym
The Bureau of Meteorology in Australia refers a former tropical cyclone as an "ex-tropical cyclone". An example is ex-tropical cyclone Oswald.